Georgian Restaurant Shoti Bread House Opens in Fair Lawn

Plus: Other openings and closings in Jersey City, Clifton, Closter and Paramus.

—Georgian cuisine isn’t something the Garden State sees much of, but the recently opened Shoti Bread House in Fair Lawn is going to change that. The restaurant/bakery is named for shotis puri, the name of a traditional Georgian bread baked in a clay oven similar to a tandoor. The bread menu also features Mchadi (pan-fried corn bread) and Chvishtari (the same thing, with cheese), in addition to a variety of Georgian cheeses, sauces, pastry, and Khachapuri, or Georgian egg and cheese flatbread similar to pizza. A great stick-to-your-ribs option for colder weather. Shoti Bread House, 14-29 River Road, Fair Lawn; 201-272-1900

—Hudson & Co. opened its doors on October 25 on the Jersey City waterfront, and pretty much everything about it is big. With room enough for 300 people, indoor and outdoor seating, views of the Manhattan skyline, and plenty of beers on tap, it’s a “night out” kind of place. The menu reads like a steakhouse, gastropub, and sushi bar all met up for cocktails. Hudson & Co. Bar and Grill, 3 Second Street, Jersey City; 201-685-7330

—Burgerhaus held its grand opening on October 19. The place looks quirky and fun but dead serious about its burgers (with an ultra simple menu and highly Instagrammable burgers and fries). Prices are low—the highest cost item are the Hausbites cheese sliders, at $7. Burgerhaus, 14 Market Street, Clifton; 973-928-4859

–In case Halloween candy or the onslaught of holiday feasting isn’t enough of a caloric scare, there’s Dough Life, the “edible cookie dough” concept that opened this October at the Garden State Mall in Paramus. Flavors span the gamut from classic chocolate chip to a cookies and cream to the Americano, with Nutella and espresso. Dough Life, 1 Garden State Plaza, Paramus; 201-843-2121

In the Works:

–A new cocktail and bites bar/restaurant is in the works for Jersey City. They’re still looking for servers and front of house staff, but Jersey Social says its opening later this month in the massive Cast Iron Lofts complex on Coles Street. If the setting is any indication, expect a fairly sleek operation. Jersey Social, 300 Coles Street, Jersey City; no phone yet.

–7 North Avenue East in Cranford has been home to the Downtown Family Restaurant, but it’s getting a new tenant with Agios Nektarios restaurant. 7 North Avenue E., Cranford; no phone yet.

–Mi Tea has a handful of locations on both coasts (including Washington State and San Gabriel, California), and it’s bringing its very unique tea concept to New Jersey for the first time. The self-described “twist” in Mi Tea’s bubble tea concept is the pink Himalayan sea salt cheese foam it tops its teas with. (Yes.) With 1000+ locations worldwide, they must be onto something. You can find out, if you dare, when they open sometime this month. Mi Tea, 1784 Lincoln Highway, Edison; no phone yet.

–Details are scant, but a new restaurant called Royal Hot Pot, serving Chinese-style hot pot meals, is looking for help for a Fort Lee location. Royal Hot Pot, Fort Lee. No address yet; no phone yet.

Closing:

–The Barn in the newly revamped Closter Plaza will be closing after just about five years in operation. The Barn (formerly known as the Farm and located just across Piermont Road) sold produce, baked goods, savory foods, and the requisite farmhouse donuts. They announced their closing, though no exact date, in a heartfelt Facebook post. The Barn, 570 Piermont Road, Closter Commons Plaza, Closter.